Improvement in mowing-machines



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN stinken, or borrarlo, New vonk.

IMPROVEMENT iN MoWlNG-MA'GHIN'ES.

i Specilication formingvpnrtof Letters Patent No. 51,364, dated Dccemhcr, 1865.

To all fathom it may concern: i

Be it known that l, JOHN B. TiNKEu, ofthe city of Buffalo, county of' Erie, an d Stateot' New this specification, in which Figure I isla sectional side elevation of my improved machine, said section being taken on the line 1 2 of Fig. II, and seen in the direction of theparrow 3. Fig. II isa plan, and Fig. Ill

. is a front elevation, ot' saine.

The nature of thisinvention consists in constructing ainowing-machine for mowing grass witli'two 'drivinglwheelfs'located one at" each en d of the cutting apparatus, so that one horse and "one driviug-wheel will travel in 'the standing grass and the other on the mow'n grass in v going in one direction, and vice versa in going in the other direction, so that a field of' grass may be cut by parallel swarths working from one side of the field only.

Letters of like name and 'kind refer to like parts in each ofthe figures.

A A represent the driving-wheels placed at a properadistance apart to permit the location of the cutting apparatus between them,and their axesbein g directly in line with each other.

The frame-work by which the driving-wheels are retained in position and the various parts of the machine supported consists of the foreand -aft timbers B, one at each side of each wheel, being framed together in front in pairs by the short crosspieces B and at the back the same, but by` a long cross-piece, B2, which connects the two pairs together. 'The journalboxes C of the Idriving-wheel axles are bolted to the timbers B, as represented. l

The-timbers B are further connectedtogether b y a framing consisting of the vertical posts B3 and the long cross-timber B4, thetposts raising the cross-timber to such a height as not to 'interfere with the falling grass.

D represents the finger-bar carrying the guard-fingers D', through which the cutters.

work, and located between and in front of the the driving-wheels. It is supported by the shoes E at each end, which are extended upward and backward and hinged to the rear cross-piece, B2, as shown at c. The shoes also carry rollers F in front of the llin, 0erl )ar, which run upontlie'gronnd and sustain the weight of the fingen-bar.

G represents n pinion-shaft extendingacross from one driving-wheel to the other, ruiming injournal-boxes G,'an d carrying at each end a pinion, G2, gearing with thecog-riins A- on the driving-wheels. These pinions are loose upon the shaft, but are caused to revolve with it when theA machine is 'moving forward by ratchetwheels and. pawls, the ratchet-wheels heiligconnected to the pinions and thepawls tow disks keyed upon the shaft, the device being a conimon onein mowing-machines. When'the inachiiie is backed the pinionsrevolve without turning the shaft, and consequently without givinginotion to tlielcutting apparatus..

H represents a' spur-wheel keyed on the shaft G, which gears with a pinion, I, on the parallel crank-shaft I and gives motion thereto.

J represents a bell-crank or right-angled lcver having its fulcruni at J on one of theshoes E, one arm of the lever connecting with the Awrist'J2 on the yend ot" the cutter-'bar J3, the

other being connected by the connectingrod K to the crank of the crank-shaft I', so that the revolution of the crank-shaft gives the proper reciprocating motion to the cutters.

VL represents a horizontal' shaft running transversely across the machine above the driving-wlieels, having its bearings secured to the inside vertical posts, B3,'of the frame-work, and carrying at each end a small chain-wheel or pulley, L', from which wheels chains L4 lead downward through the inside timbers, B, and connect to the shoes E.

Lz represents a third chain-wheel on the shaft L, from which a chain, L3, leads to vthe hand-lever M, having its fulcrum at m on one of the inside timbers, B. The position cthis lever is' such that the driver, sitting ufpon his seat N, can reach it, and by drawing toward him unwind tlie chain from the wheel L2, which will wind up the chains L4 on the wheels L', and raise the finger-bar and cutters from the ground to pass over obstructions. l

O represents a stiff steel spring bolted to the timber B, the free end bearing against the 1ever M, the stillness of the sprin g being so regulated-that it will bear against the lever with sufficient force to canse the -chains to sustain a large portion ofthe weight of the finger-bar and cutting apparatus'and throwit upon the driv ing-Wheels, making the draft of the machine much lighter than if the'inger-bar dragged upon the ground, 'while at the same time its tiexibility will allow the unbalancedA weight of the finger-bar to canse it to follow the inequalities of the ground, and cut the grass as closelyv as may'fbedesired.

P represents Vthe draft-pole, which is forked so as to allow its connection to both ends ofthe frame of vthe machine in front of the drivingwheels, giving additional strength and support to the frame, and at the same time leaving the space in front of the cutting apparatusunobstructed by'any device 'which would beardown or press forward the standing or uncut grass.

' l Each horse travels directly in front of a driv standing grass, andthe other horse and wheel on the mowed grass, and vice versa when going in the opposite direction, so that the standing grass which is tread down by the passage ot' the machine in one direction is cnt bythe mnchine when moving inthe reversed direction, thedirectiou ofthe machine thus being brought opposite to that in which the grass is trodden down by the previous' passage of themachine.

, Q represents diagonal braces running one from each shoe and meeting at the back timber, B2, to which they are hinged,.as shown at Q' in rear of the center of the finger-bar.

These braces serve a double purpose-iirst, giving strength and rigidity to the finger-bar; and, second, clearing a track for the passage of thel driving-wheel running on' the mowed ground.' i

Having described my invention,.whatI claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In amowing-machinehavingtwo driving:-

wheels so arranged that one'horse walks inthe ,standinggrass when mowing, supporting and holding the finger-bar at both ends by means` ofi-:the extended and hinged shoes E, in combiationwith so locating the finger-bar-and cutters that the cutters will dotheir Work with.

vin or between the trac-kofthe two driving* A wheels.

2. The vcombination of thecarryingrollers F with the hinged andexteuded shoes E, arranged and located substantiallyas herein described. y j- 3. The arrangement of the hand-lever M, chain-wheels L' L?, chains 113,114, and supporting frame-posts B3, asherein described, so that power may be conveniently applied sim ultane ously and equally .at both ends of the cutting" apparatus for raising it to pass obstructions.

4. The combination and arrangement ofthe spring 0 with the hand-lever M, chain-wheels L', L2, and chains L L4, for the purposes' and;A substantially asfdescri .Term B." trinken Witnesses GEo.'W. WALLACE, W. H. FoRBUsH. 

